The first pressing of the UK edition (said to be the first 1.000 copies) featured the sax version of 'John I'm Only Dancing' instead of the original single. A 40th Anniversary Edition (Parlophone COBLP 2016), containing the sax version, was released on both clear and black vinyl.

For decades, the only CD was the original RCA edition (PD 81732) from 1984. The 40th Anniversary Edition of the European (Parlophone COBCDX 2016) and Australian (Parlophone 9029599409) editions contain the sax version, whereas the US/Canadian (Parlophone RP2 94099) edition features the original single version.

Initial French and UK pressings incorrectly mention 'Drive-In Saturday' on the sleeve instead of 'Breaking Glass', which explains the chronological misplacement of this live track from Stage. There also is a French mispress (K-tel BLP 81001/NS 4119) that lists 'Breaking Glass' on the sleeve but plays 'Drive-In Saturday' instead and on the B-side replaces 'Young Americans' with 'Beauty And The Beast' and 'Breaking Glass'.

Released in a multitude of countries. The most common edition, released in the UK and many other countries, has single versions of Fame/Golden Years/TVC 15/"Heroes" and unique edits of 'Life On Mars' and 'Diamond Dogs'. The Italian edition (K-tel TI 157) is quite different, as it features the full album version of 'Life On Mars' (instead of an edit fading at 3'36"), the original version of 'John I'm Only Dancing' (rather than the sax version), the Low version of 'Breaking Glass' (instead of the Stage version), a version of 'Diamond Dogs' that already fades at 3'05" (rather than the 4'37" edit), the US single version of 'Young Americans' (instead of the LP version), the albums versions of 'Fame' and 'Golden Years', and the album version of 'TVC 15' fading at 3'36" (rather than the single edit). The Spanish edition (K-tel 12L0224 5) contains edited versions of 'Diamond Dogs' (4'26"), Fame (3'17") and Golden Years (3'10"). The Australian/New Zealand edition (K-tel NA 580), finally, has unique edits of 'Diamond Dogs' (4'27"), 'Young Americans' (4'03"), 'Golden Years' (3'43"), 'TVC 15' (4'02") and "Heroes" (5'19").

A promo cassette (K-tel RCM 2045) was distributed in The Netherlands, with a DJ announcing the tracks. Despite his announcement of the latter, the cassette features 'Sweet Thing' instead of 'Diamond Dogs'.